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KwaZulu-Natal Premier Willies Mchunu has affirmed the commitment of government to work with big business to ensure inclusive economic growth. Mchunu, in his capacity as Co-Chair of KZN Growth Coalition, together with Leader of Government Business Sihle Zikalala met with captains of industry today in Durban.

Mchunu remarked: “I believe that we have already casted a strong foundation in this province for government and business to work together to achieve a common vision we have for our province. This very event this morning is testament to the manner in which the relationship between government and business has been formalized. We have joined hands to steer the ship even through the stormy sea.”

“The Coalition and its regional structures, together with the relationships we have established with other institutions representing organised business in this province, such as the various Chambers of Commerce and Industry, has enabled us to develop and nurture this relationship to a point where we are already greatly unified in our actions.  The task at hand now is to ensure that we work relentlessly to ensure that we remain unified.”

“I do, however, wish to indicate that even in the challenging times we have experienced since 2011, with a sluggish world economy, slow domestic growth, currency volatility and continuing declining resource prices, we still managed to grow the total output value of all sectors of the provincial economy from 400 billion in 2010, to a corresponding Rand Value of just under 500 billion in 2017. Formal employment in our economy grew from 2.3 million in 2010 to 2.6 million in 2017 with the most significant gains made in the tertiary sector of the economy.”

Mchunu also stressed the importance of skills development as part of ensuring socio-economic development.

“This is an area that requires our collective action. We are working with our tertiary institutions through the Human Resources Development Council to ensure a better output of required skills, but there are some structural challenges that may take some time to correct.”

“In the interim we have an opportunity to explore more partnership arrangements for both formal private sector training opportunities as well as creating experiential work and training opportunities through an extended internship programme. I must acknowledge that this an area where the private sector has stepped forward and has already made a significant contribution. Much more is however still needed to ensure that we can achieve both our employment and unemployment targets.”
 

Mchunu further called for government and business sector to work together to develop common and yet specific KZN Identity.

He emphasized: “We want to unifying identity that will bring us together without expecting any individual to denounce their own individual cultures and values. We must emphasise that this matter can’t be regarded as an optional extra because this could spark a reaction that none of us will be able to contain. It is therefore in our best interest and that of the people of this Province to ensure that we unite in action towards a prosperous KZN and RSA.”

He appealed in his conclusion: “We are therefore making a passionate plea to you as business leaders in this province to join hands with us as we strive to deepen social cohesion and moral regeneration towards a prosperous KZN and building a proud South African Nation.”
 

Issued by the KZN Office of the Premier